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The old man Shiweng sat cross-legged on a rope bed. A disciple approached and asked about the fundamental principles of medicine. The old man sighed with a melancholy expression and said, "We revere the ancients for establishing good governance, yet later generations have added harmful practices to the people. The current trend of hypocritical scholars stems largely from an over-reliance on texts. The calamity befalling the common people originates from the misuse of so-called 'miracle elixirs' (referring to blind faith in or erroneous medical interventions). I have observed all living things extensively; nothing lacks the potential for success or failure. Humans are endowed with the spirit of creation but cannot transcend the realm of all things. The four elements—Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind—constantly battle within the body. Even those with strong wills are not immune to the danger of disease. Once illness becomes severe, they turn to medicine, often losing their lives due to greed for survival, which is truly pitiable. As for the ignorant who fail to learn from past mistakes, those dying prematurely follow one after another day by day. As for those who dare not try treatments until they fully understand them, how many such people have there been from ancient times to the present?

There are three major diseases among today's famous physicians: First, some rely on the reputation of family doctors, abandon the pursuit of sage learning, rigidly adhere to family secrets, practice indiscriminate purging and attacking, and disregard the patient's original vitality. This is because they have not heard of the Great Dao. Second, some abandon Confucian studies for medicine, merely pursue extensive reading without thoroughly inheriting their master's teachings, specialize in warm and tonifying methods, and vehemently condemn bitter and cold drugs. This is due to a lack of understanding of flexibility and adaptation. Third, some deceive the world and steal fame, using flattery and relying on social connections. They ride in high carriages to show off their skills, cater to contemporary trends, kill innocent people daily to fill the bellies of their guests, and exhaust their mental energy to win the smiles of their wives and children. These are seeds of hell, destined to sink into karmic consciousness. These three diseases cannot be cured by medicine. Now, relying on the power of the Medical King and wielding the wisdom of the Six Supernormal Powers, I open a transmission outside the scriptures to save those suffering from premature death and plague through subtle dharma gates. If you have doubts, come forward and ask firmly, but you must swiftly sweep away the accumulated stains in your mind and start anew on a blank slate regarding your clinical skills. If you can suddenly attain enlightenment and establish the orthodox style, why worry about not directly inheriting the lineage of Master Nanyang (Zhang Zhongjing)?

Someone asked: Medical books are as numerous as oxen carrying loads of books. Which should be prioritized? I replied: Medical writings increase daily, becoming more tangled, while insight becomes lower. All are merely stealing fox saliva (metaphor for false and insubstantial content) and collecting leftover words. Never has a single word emerged from one's own spirituality. Therefore, I speak of a transmission outside the scriptures, not wanting you to fall into pitfalls. Recently, those paying attention to this path are as numerous as sand and mud, but finding those with innate roots (innate aptitude) is impossible. Thus, we must slightly rely on texts as a ladder for guidance. However, this usurping of creation's work carries a heavy burden. Even those with true hearts towards the Dao, taking the welfare of the people as their responsibility, if they are careless about their initial school of thought, may drift into heterodoxy. Later, even if they meet a wise teacher to correct them, the threads of logic will never be clear. Unclear threads lead to inaccurate syndrome differentiation; inaccurate differentiation leads to hesitant treatment. How can one expect miraculous cures? Those with ambition must first clearly understand the *Ling Shu* (Spiritual Pivot), *Su Wen* (Basic Questions), *Shang Han Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage), and *Jin Gui Yao Lue* (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet). These are the eye treasury of the orthodox method in medicine. However, their meanings are profound, language concise, and nature obscure and difficult to comprehend. Readers must not accept others' interpretations blindly, lest they block their own doors to enlightenment. When encountering places that cannot be penetrated, it feels like hitting an iron mountain or wall. Suddenly, at the point where entry seems impossible, the top of the head bursts open (metaphor for sudden clarity), and everything becomes clear as fire. Only then should one look at ancient commentaries, avoiding their errors. Wait until one's theoretical knowledge is solid, then freely browse various schools, benefiting everywhere. Take Liu Wansu, Zhang Congzheng, Li Dongyuan, and Zhu Zhenheng, known as the Four Great Masters. Their doctrines each hold a bias. Hejian's (Liu Wansu) learning starts from Qibo's Nineteen Pathogenic Mechanisms, so his prescriptions focus entirely on treating heat. Dairen (Zhang Congzheng) focuses on restoring order and eliminating evil, so his sweating, vomiting, and purging methods fit perfectly. Know that these two practiced in the Northwest due to local climate conditions, which cannot be forced. Dongyuan aimed to cultivate Earth to nurture all things, so he often engaged in raising Yang. Danxi focused on clearing and regulating form and Qi, so he excelled in treating damp-heat. Although both of their paths were followed in the Southeast, one faced turmoil while the other enjoyed peace. The principles of tonification, purgation, ascending, and descending must change according to the times. For those with shallow knowledge who cannot grasp the whole, teaching should be tailored to the student, pointing out quick methods. Generally, they reach the same destination.

However, regarding pulse diagnosis, no single school since ancient times has been worthy of worship. I, presumptuously, believe I have grasped its essence, but alas, I could not correct popular errors to return to the lineage of the Sages, leaving me with a guilty conscience. Some say: The Master's Way is bright as the sun and moon, yet there are still those who cannot distinguish light from dark. Why? I say: It is my karma that does not align, and also the beings' karma that does not align. Buddhist doctrine speaks of timing and conditions, which cannot be forced. I hear that Buddha's Dharma is boundless, able to save all sentient beings, but cannot transform those without affinity. How can my limited intellect fill the Dharma Realm and make everyone submit to the supreme teaching? Now, observing those visiting contemporary teachers, they are all sheep with tiger skins (superficial appearance). Asking what they learned, it is nothing but fake formulas and Materia Medica rhymes, recited in every home. Ancient and modern customs persist, unaware of the errors. The fake formulas originated from Gaoyang Sheng. Dai Qizong once wrote corrections to expose his falsehoods, but deaf teachers still regarded them as treasures for life because they were written in colloquial language and easy to memorize. The *Materia Medica Rhyme* (*Yao Xing Fu*) authorship is unknown, yet falsely attributed to Dongyuan, which is infuriating. I wish if Qin Shi Huang had any awareness, he would burn these two books, bringing boundless merit. As for Wang Shuhe's *Mai Jing* (Pulse Classic) and Yang Shangshan's *Tai Su*, they mostly pick up scriptural phrases, mixing impurities within. Opening them occasionally causes regret like gold dust entering the eyes. Others like *Zi Xu Si Zhen*, *Dan Xi Zhi Zhang*, *Ying Ning Shu Yao*, *Bin Hu Mai Xue*, and *Shi Cai Zheng Yan* are praised at the time. But they are all like carving a mark on a boat to find a sword, or looking for a horse by picture. When reaching the subtlety of heart and hand coordination, it is like bird tracks in the wind or moon reflections on water. Without intelligence and eloquence, how can one perceive the micro-details? Today, various schools gather. If you ask me the general principles of pulse diagnosis, I will use the Water of Samadhi to wash away dusty views and reveal the living dharma gate where everything is right. Not touching the slightest trace, one can recommend the mechanism instantly. Students, do not think my words are eccentric. Know that ice is water. The meaning of this special transmission is originally no different from the mind-seal passed down from Xuanyuan, Qibo, and Zhongjing. It only differs from the contemporary methods of Seven Surfaces and Eight Interiors, taking different paths and standing in stark contrast in principle.